The Earl's Mission: Defiant Brides Book 4 Read online

  Chapter Four

  A strange heat rushed through Rachel’s body, and not caused by the fire roaring behind her. No, it was due to the man sitting opposite her, who had a smile that made her heart flutter for some unknown reason. He seemed to be struggling to speak, his hand moving a wave of hair from his brow, and she felt an odd lightness in her head. Perhaps it was the deep brown of his eyes or the muscles that pulled at the sleeves of his coat. Whatever the cause of her discomfort, she was most certainly struggling with concentration. Biting down on her lip to regain some sense of her wits, she leaned forward a little, her eyes locking onto his. She was unsure why, but she needed to regain her senses with this one.

  “Do you have a name?” she asked. The man was clearly of a higher class than she, but she had never been one to bow and scrape to the nobility. His coat was a fine cut, fitting him perfectly, and he wore a starched white cravat no man who entered the Rooster’s Crow would typically don. Even his boots, though splashed with mud, had been recently shined and lacked the scratches of a boot worn by a laborer.

  The man nodded and then cleared his throat. “Yes, of course,” he said in a well-educated voice that sent a shiver down her spine. “I am Lord Joseph Linfield, Earl of Brunsford.” He seemed to have gotten over whatever nervousness that had plagued him, for now he wore a smug smile. She had seen that same smile before on men such as he, and it always followed when they said their own name.

  “Well, do you have something to say to me?” She refrained from using any type of address; few men such as this one deserved such respect. Most tended to be self-absorbed, pompous men who felt that anyone in her position was unworthy of their time. Perhaps she should reserve judgment for this man, for he had so far not proven to be like others of his class, at least not as of yet. As a matter of fact, he had immediately reverted to a nervousness she would never have expected of a man of his station.

  “I have ridden three days to find you,” he said.

  “To find me?” she said with a quick sniff. However, her curiosity was certainly piqued. “Why?”

  The man shook his head and sighed, more than likely aggravated by her interruption, as if that meant anything to her. Then she caught a strong whiff of brandy on his breath, much stronger than one who had consumed a single measure. She suspected he had consumed several glasses before arriving here, which would explain the silly smile that he wore.

  He cleared his throat and then asked, “Before we begin, what should I call you?”

  “I’m Rachel Cooper,” she replied.

  “Well, Miss Cooper, two months ago, a dear friend of mine passed away,” he said.

  Rachel stared at him. How could such a sorrowful occasion make someone smile so broadly? Surely this man was much more callous than she first expected.

  “It was on his deathbed that he made a request of me, or two requests, actually.” He reached into an inside pocket of his coat. “One of his requests included this.” He placed a ring on the table, a gold band with a blue stone set in it. “Please, it is yours. Take it.”

  She went to reach across the table and then stopped. It was beautiful, and she truly wished to believe that some man she did not know had wished she had such a prize, but she could not help but be more than a little wary of such a gift. Her eyes narrowed. “Is this some sort of trick?” she asked. “Are you going to accuse me of theft once I accept it?”

  He shook his head, clear amusement on his face, which she wished she could slap off him. His dark mop of hair fell over his brown once again, and she almost reached out to push it back. What a silly thing to wish to do, she thought.

  “No, of course not,” he replied. “I am far from any trickster. As a matter of fact, I am far above it for I am an Earl.”

  She stopped herself from snorting; a titled man could be just as much of a rogue, if not more, than any men who frequented the Rooster’s Crow. Yet, this man had been nothing but gallant since arriving, so it would probably be best if she trusted him until she learned otherwise. That did not mean she should not be wary.

  Reluctantly, she picked up the ring and stared down at it. It was the finest piece of jewelry she had ever seen, the craftsmanship of the band flawless as were the jewels within it. Not that she had much experience with such things. It could have been made of bronze and glass and she would not have known the difference. Regardless, she did find the ring beautiful.

  “Thank you for the gift,” she said finally. “I have to admit, I don’t understand why anyone would think to give me something such as this, but…thank you.” She stood and gazed at the man, this Earl who had ridden so far just to bring her a ring, and she found her heartbeat increasing. Something inside her told her to beware, and she rarely ignored it. “I must bid you a good night, for it’s time to close the pub. Please, finish your drink and leave.”

  As she turned to walk back to the bar, he grabbed her wrist. Though the hold was not hurtful, it was firm. “Please, wait, I have more that I must tell you.”

  She glanced around but her parents were not in the room. It was not as if he had hurt her. And the man had given her a ring, the least she could do was hear what he had to say. She retook her seat. “Very well, I’ll listen to your story. But please respect that some of us work in life and don’t have the luxury of whiling away the hours in idle chitchat. Some of us work and don’t live by the work of others.”

  The Earl’s jaw clenched for a moment, and then he said, “I would be able tell you about my work and dedication to business, but that is not my purpose for being here. When my father passed ten years ago, Richard Templeton took it upon himself to mentor me and help me grow my businesses. It was he who wished you to have that ring.”

  Rachel nodded. This Mr. Templeton sounded a good man to take a flailing young man under his wing. However, what this had to do with her, she had no idea. “He sounds like a very kind man,” she said, “and I’m sorry for your loss. However, why did he feel the need to leave me a ring? I don’t know of a Richard Templeton by name, nor anyone who could possess something of such great value that they’d leave it to me.”

  “That ring belonged to his mother,” Lord Linfield said. “That is, your grandmother.”

  Rachel felt her heart fall to the pit of her stomach. This man, this Richard Templeton, was her father? But no, her mother had told Rachel that her father was a ship merchant who died at sea. It was not possible. And yet the look on the face of the man who sat across from her said otherwise.

  “I’m sorry,” she said as she slid the ring reluctantly back across the table, “but my father died at sea when I was a baby. Whoever this man was, he was not my father.”

  “I realize this is difficult to understand…”

  “No, it’s simple to understand. My father could not be this man. How is it this man believed that I’m his daughter?”

  Lord Linfield sighed. “Richard told me to search for you here, in Falmouth. He gave me a description of your mother, and you match that description almost perfectly.” He gave her a small smile. “He asked me to tell you that he loved you and that not a single day or moment went by that he did not think of you. He regretted never meeting you.”

  Rachel felt a hot tear roll down her cheek and she quickly wiped it away angrily. “If he was my father, if he loved me as you say he did, then why did he not come to meet me? Why did he not marry my mother?” She wished with all her heart to believe him, but if it was true, the man was not what she would have wished for a father. However, despite her unwillingness to believe, her heart told her that the man spoke the truth. And that truth made her angry.

  “These matters are complicated between men and women. There are times when women make choices that might be considered irrational…”

  She raised her head quickly to stare at him. “What are you saying? That women are silly creatures? That we cannot understand how men think? We lowly women are meant only for pleasure, not to be looked after or provided for?” It was as if lava burned in her veins as she
rose from her chair and glared down at him. “How dare he think he can send someone to buy me off.” She set the ring on the table in front of him. What angered her the most was that in truth her mother had lain with a wealthy man, produced a child that society deemed unworthy, a bastard. Illegitimate was the correct term, but still it was as offensive. “Will that be all?” she demanded. “If so, I wish you to leave.”

  “There is something you need to understand,” the man said, leaning forward. “He asked me to bring you back to his Kellington estate so you can walk the halls in which you should have been raised, to live as you should have.”

  Rachel gave a derisive sniff. She did not believe a word this man said.

  The Earl became insistent. “Do you not see? He wished to make amends. You will want for nothing, as I will be in charge of your business affairs. You will have the finest clothes, the best cuisine, Elford Estates, the house in which you will live, and not a care in the world.” The smile on his face returned and it suddenly occurred to Rachel that this man was no different from all the others. The idea of great wealth was all too pleasing to them above anything else.

  She pursed her lips and shot him another glare. “How kind of my father to ask you to do this for me even when he wanted nothing to do with me while he was alive,” she said, her voice dripping with scorn. “Of course, I’m sure you have no qualms in honoring his request, do you?”

  He gave her a quizzical look. “None at all. It was an honor to be asked to look after his business dealings. However, it was also an honor to be asked to look after you and to show you the life you never had. I found his attempts to make right what he had done in the past commendable.”

  The meaning of his words settled upon her. She would never have to worry about food or money. She would live in a grand estate. However, her life, her family, was here. So many believed that the worth of a person was in what one owned; however, she knew that love of friends and family, not of land or deed, was what was the most important.

  “Miss Cooper,” Lord Linfield said, “are you spoken for? That is, are you engaged or betrothed to someone?”

  She sniffed at him. “I know what it means,” she snapped. He must have thought her a fool, as if someone of her social standing would be less intelligent. “No, I am not.” Then she narrowed her eyes at him. “Why do you ask?”

  He shrugged. “I needed to know for the estate, nothing more.” He placed his cloak over his shoulders. “Now, are you ready to leave this place and go to a home more befitting the daughter of a wealthy merchant?”

  She stared at the man, unable to believe his temerity. “This place is my home,” she said angrily, “and I don’t appreciate your disregard for it. Now, I beg your pardon, but I’ve work to finish.”

  When she took a step to show him the door, however, he stood in her way. She swallowed hard. She had not realized how tall he was, nor how well his coat fit his trim torso.

  “I will return in two days’ time, just before noon, to collect you and take you to your new home. If you choose not to go, you may refuse, and I will never bother you again.” He looked around the pub with clear contempt on his face. “I am sure we can have your allowance somehow sent to this…place.” His stare made her feel nervous, it was so strong. “I can see that you still do not believe me, or perhaps it is too much to comprehend at once. However, I can assure you of one thing; every word I spoke this night is true.” He then turned and walked away, the door slamming closed behind him.

  Rachel hurried over and locked the door. In a daze, she walked over and poured herself a small glass of wine. Growing up in a pub had taught her to be strong, and wallowing in sadness would not get her anywhere, and she was not going to start now. She sipped at the wine, the thoughts of the recent conversation playing through her mind. Between the problems with Jacob Down and this Earl of Brunsford there was a problem one common, but hard to come by, item could fix. Money. The ring alone would easily pay off the debt her father owed; that is, the man who she knew as her father, the man who would always be her father despite the story she had just heard. She also would have more than enough money to get the pub back to where it had once been.

  “‘Tis a lovely ring, isn’t it?” her mother said, breaking Rachel from her thoughts as she stared down at the lovely blue stone. She was certain it was a sapphire, though she had never seen one before in her life. However, what other gem could have such color?

  “Yes, it’s very nice,” Rachel replied. “If I sell it, we can pay off the debt.”

  The plump woman smiled as she sat across from Rachel. She reached over and took Rachel’s hand in hers. “My beautiful daughter, your father told me about what you said to Jacob. It’s not your burden to bear; it’s ours.”

  Rachel shook her head. “It’s all of ours,” she said firmly. “But now I have the way to settle father’s debt.” She held up the ring. “I’ll sell this tomorrow and we’ll pay Jacob what is owed. Once the weather turns, we can become profitable once again. Then you can sell this place for a better price and you and father can retire.”

  Her mother released her hand. “When you were brought to us,” she said quietly, “I always knew you were a gift. I had always wanted a little girl, and yet bein’ unable to conceive, I still prayed for a miracle.”

  Rachel had heard this story numerous times, and each telling still warmed her heart.

  “But I knew the gift was temporary, for though your father and I love you, we’ve always known that you’re meant for better things, to enjoy a life you should’ve lived that was taken from you.”

  Rachel felt tears threatening to fall over her lashes. “You don’t want me here?”

  “No, my child, that’s not it at all. I’d have you stay here with us forever, but that’d be selfish. I heard some of the conversation with that Earl, and after thirty years of seeing every type of man, I know he speaks the truth.” She pressed her hand to Rachel’s cheek. “You should go with him and return to your father’s house.”

  Mildred’s words came as a blow to her stomach. She loved the pub, her parents, and many of the people who frequented the pub to enjoy their drinks or the occasional bowl of stew. This was her home, not some fancy estate in Devon.

  “Well, I’m sorry,” Rachel stated firmly. “I’m staying. You can’t make me leave.”

  Her mother rose from her chair and gave her a firm glare. Then she walked over and hugged Rachel tightly. “You will leave here when that man returns. Your father and I’ll settle our debt, sell the pub and seek our new life up North. Know that we both love you dearly, and that’s why I’m tellin’ you that you must go. It’s time for you to start your new life.”

  Rachel nodded. As much as she hated to admit it, she was no longer a child, but rather a grown woman, and if she remained, she would only be a burden to her parents. That was something she could not allow to happen, especially when something better had presented itself. “I love you both,” she whispered before her mother ended the embrace. “Thank you for taking care of me all these years. I have never felt as if I was not your child.”

  “I love you, too,” her mother said softly, “and know that you’ve never been a burden to us. I want you to find great happiness and love, Rachel. You will, if you just allow it to happen.”

  Rachel nodded. Maybe her life was in Devon, living in a huge house. She might find happiness in that.

  “Now, I am going to talk to your father. You go get some sleep; I’ll finish the cleanup in here.”

  After one last hug, Rachel went to her small room located in the far back of the pub. She lit the single candle on a side table and looked out the small window. The rain had stopped and the moon was now out, casting its light down upon her. As she continued to gaze up, her mind turned to Lord Linfield. If he was to keep watch over her in this new life, he was handsome enough and had the means to help her. Perhaps her mother was right. Perhaps she was meant for better things.

  Feeling hopeful for the first time all day, she prepared
herself for bed, wondering what her new life would be like.

  Chapter Five

  Rachel took one last look around her tiny room. A narrow bed, a small table with unmatched chipped bowl and pitcher, a round rug she had made herself in the middle of the floor, and several pegs on the wall to hold the few bits of clothing she owned. The room had been the only home she had known for fifteen years, and although she had been a very young child when came to live with Mildred and George, she remembered arriving all those years ago. Her mother was now an indistinct form in her memory, a person lacking facial features.

  What did come to mind was the gown of deep blue she wore, for it sparkled in the bright sunlight as the woman spoke to the heavyset woman just outside of the pub. Mildred had invited her mother into the pub and George had stayed with Rachel as she sat at the tall counter drinking a very nice glass of raspberry shrub. An hour later, Rachel’s mother walked past Rachel without a second glance, or a single word of goodbye, and out the front door to never be seen again.

  Rachel remembered staring after her mother for several moments, utterly confused, until Mildred sallied up beside her, pulled her into her large, safe arms, and held her as she cried. Since that day, Mildred and George had kept an eye on her, loved her and provided for her as if she were their own child. Rachel could not have asked for better parents, and though she no longer felt anything—neither love nor hatred—for her the woman who had given birth to her, she was glad the pub owners had become her parents.

  Times had been both good and not so good throughout the years, as they could be for everyone, but regardless of the mountains and valleys, her parents—and that was how she saw them, as her parents—were always there for her. And somehow she knew that would never change.